Apparatus for subjecting gases to high-tension discharges.



No. 709,865. Patented Sept. 30, 1902.

4 c. s. BRADLEY & n. R.'LOVEJOY. APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING GASES TO HIGHTENSION DISCHARGES.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1901.)

( No Model.)

fiz/i ze m ea, 1520622337119:

UNITED STATES PATE T- OF ICE.

CHARLES s. BRADLEY, OF NEW YORK, AND DIMIMIT'II oss 'LovE oY, OF NIAGARAFALLS, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE, ASSIGNMENTS, TO ATMOSPHERICPRODUCTS COMPANY, or NIAGARA FA Ls, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING GASES T HIGH-TENSIoNDISCHARGES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. roasee', and Septemberso, 1902.

Original application filed March 9. 1900, Serial No. 8,008. Divided andthis application filed August 29, 1901. Serial No. 78,674. (No modal.) f

filed March 9, 1900.

The object of the present invention is to enable subdivision of thehigh-tension dis-' charges, so as to obtain a largenumber of arcs ordischarges from the same source or so circuit. The discharges being inthe nature of arcs, it will be understood that when a number ofdischarging devices are arranged in parallel in connection. with acommon energizing-circuit the discharge will tend to con- ,;2 5 tinueand increase abnormally in one or more of the arcs that have been firstformed, to the exclusion of the other devices. This results not onlyinjrendering the other devices inoperativefor the time being, but theconcentration of all the energy on one or a few of the devices is liableto burn out such devices. To prevent this,we provide inductances whichare placed individually in circuit with the respective arcing devices,so as to resist any sudden increase in current in any one of thesedevices; This in connection with the use of a rapidly-movingdischarge-terminal, which constantly tends to elongate and finally breakthe arcs formed, insures against undue 4o heating of any of the devicesand causes the energy to bedistributed uniformly over all of thedevices. U

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-sectional elevationof an apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionof the same.

The apparatus here shown is adapted to carry out the process disclosedin our prior' application above referred to-namely, the nitrification ofair-by exposing a current of air to the action of intermittentlyelongated and interrupted arcs; but it may also be applied to thetreatment of' other gases or mixtures of gases'with electric discharges.

The apparatus comprises a plurality of dis- 5 5 charge devicesorterminals 1, arranged in annular rows around the walls of a cylindricalvessel 2, and corresponding series of movable terminals 3, arranged onashaft 4, rotated in bearings 5 5 by a motor 6. The 6c vessel or chamber2 has a cover or top, but is provided with intake 7 and outlet 8 for thefresh and the nitrified air, respectively. The electric current may betaken from any suitable s0urce,whether direct or alternating,

(indicated at 9,) connections being made by wires 10 11 from this sourcein parallel to the plurality of fixed terminals 1 01. one side and toshaft 4 (through its bearing 5) on the other side. Included in theconnection to each terminal 1 is an inductance or self-induction device12, here shown as consisting of coils of wire connected in series andwound on a core of magnetic materialr To facilitatethe connecting in ofthese induction devices, they are 7 5.

arranged on annular supports or shelves 13 around the vessel 2, and oneof the terminals, 15, from the coils of each of the induction devices isadapted to bear against a fixed terminal 17, arranged on the outside ofvessel 2 and connected to a terminal 1 on the inside of said vessel,while the other terminal,- 15, of the induction device is adapted tobear on a contact-riug 18 on the shelf 13, the several contact rings 18being connected to'one side of the supply-circuit.

In operation the shaft'4 is rapidly rotated; and the terminals 3aretherebycaused to move past the fixed terminals 1. These terminals beingconnected with opposite sides of a hightension electric source orcircuit- -that is, to a circuit of an electromotive force suflicient toproduce and maintain an are without sotual contact of the terminals-arcswill be developed as each movable terminal passes a fixed terminal, andin the movement of the devices.

terminal 3 this are will be drawn out and finally broken. If it were,not for the presence of the inductance 12,'however, in' each individualbranch circuit, the decrease of resistance of each arc, due to its heat,would far more than overcome the drawing-out effect and practically thewhole power of the supply-circuit, which in practice would be verygreat, would be thrown on the first set of terminals brought into actionand the apparatus would immediately be rendered inoperative. Theself-induction of devices 12 is, however, sufiicient to hold back orcheck the rise of current, so as to give the apparatus time to elongateand break the arc, while at the same time a proper amount of the energyis forced to flow to the other arcing devices. Having thus described ourinvention, what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. Thecombination with ahigh-tension supply-circuit and a plurality ofdischarge devices connected thereto in parallel, of inductance deviceslocated in circuit with the respective discharge devices and means forsubjecting gases to the action of the discharge 2. Thecombinationwithahigh-tension supply-circuit and a plurality of discharge devicesconnected thereto in parallel and comprising relatively movableterminals, of inductance devices located in circuit with the respectivedischarge devices and means for roasts subjecting gases to the action ofthe discharge devices.

rotatably mounted in said vessel and carrying movable terminals, meansfor passing gases through the vessel,'induction devices connected incircuit with said fixed terminals, means for detachably supporting Bahtinduction devices on said vessel, and means for supplying high-tensioncurrent connected to the induction devices and the aforesaid shaft. 4.The combination of the containing vessel, fixed terminals arrangedtherein,the shaft rolatabl'y mounted in said vessel and carrying movableterminals, means for passing gases through the vessel, induction devicesconnected in circuit with said fixed terminals, means for detachablysupporting-said induction devices on said vessel, means for detachablyplacing the induction devices in circuit when they are .placed' on theirsupporting means, and means for supplying high-tension current connectedto the induction devices and theaforesaid shaft..

CHARLES S. BRADLEY.

, D. ROSS LOVEJOY. W'itnesses as to Charles S. Bradley:

J. GREEN,

A. P. KNIGHT. Witnesses as to D; Ross Lovejoyv L. E. SAUNDERS,

CHAS; B. JACOBS.

